by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UNLV first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at UNLV. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 79% students making it past their freshmen year, UNLV has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Nevada, the average is 73.68%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UNLV | 79% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Nevada | 73.68% |
How many of the estimated 3773 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 31% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 50% of the students had graduated and after eight years 54% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical UNLV graduation rate 50%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2393 | 31% |
| Six Years | 3773 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 320 | 4% |
| Did Not Complete | 3506 | 46% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 3506 students or 46% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3506 students who did not complete their degree?
103 are still enrolled.
1580 transferred to another institution.
UNLV lost contact with the remaining 1778 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 103 | 2.9% |
| Transferred | 1580 | 45.1% |
| Dropped Out | 1778 | 50.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 62% |
| Black / African-American | 41% |
| Hawaiian | 32% |
| Hispanic | 45% |
| International | 78% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 46% |
| Unknown | 56% |
| White | 52% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at UNLV are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at University of Nevada-Las Vegas represent 51.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNLV graduation rate was 46%, and by the eight year mark, 52% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | UNLV | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 46% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 47.82% |
1857 first-time / full-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
93 are still enrolled.
869 transferred to another institution.
UNLV lost contact with the remaining 895 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 93 | 5.01% |
| Transferred | 869 | 46.80% |
| Dropped Out | 895 | 48.20% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Nevada-Las Vegas represent 2.12% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNLV graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 31% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | UNLV | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 26% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 23.72% |
111 first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
46 transferred to another institution.
UNLV lost contact with the remaining 59 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 5.41% |
| Transferred | 46 | 41.44% |
| Dropped Out | 59 | 53.15% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Nevada-Las Vegas represent 28.25% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNLV graduation rate was 61%, and by the eight year mark, 63% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | UNLV | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 61% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 55.07% |
786 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
26 are still enrolled.
361 transferred to another institution.
UNLV lost contact with the remaining 399 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 3.31% |
| Transferred | 361 | 45.93% |
| Dropped Out | 399 | 50.76% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Nevada-Las Vegas represent 18.49% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UNLV graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 47% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | UNLV | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 44% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 37.80% |
752 non first-time / part-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
23 are still enrolled.
304 transferred to another institution.
UNLV lost contact with the remaining 425 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 3.06% |
| Transferred | 304 | 40.43% |
| Dropped Out | 425 | 56.52% |
